The Integrated Student Polyclinic at Westminster University

The University of Westminster offers five core BSc degrees within the BSc Complementary Therapies Degree Scheme. Students on these degrees have the wonderful opportunity to experience professional practice and an integrated approach first hand through the University’s Integrated Polyclinic. The clinic is now in its tenth year and has seen many patients and student practitioners pass through its doors 

The clinic provides low cost access to complementary therapies (such as acupuncture, complementary therapies, western herbal medicine, nutritional therapy and naturopathy for patients who is many cases would otherwise be unable to access this kind of service due to cost. Patients attend sessions and receive treatments from final year students (supervised by a clinic supervisor). Many of the patients take the opportunity to see student practitioners from different pathways giving them an integrated experience.

By their final year, students at Westminster have a good understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and differential diagnosis. The length of the consultations enables the student practitioner to take a thorough medical history from the patient. It is imbued in the students from the outset of their training the importance of knowing when to refer the patient back into the biomedical system (or to other healthcare providers) and patients are only seen if their consent is given to contact their GP if necessary. From this perspective student practitioners are encouraged to interact not only with each other across complementary disciplines but with conventional healthcare practitioners too.

Many of the patients that come to the clinic are what have often been described as typical complementary healthcare users. More often than not they present with chronic symptoms, such as musculoskeletal pain, IBS and allergies and are seeking help in the management of their conditions. As a student observer (not yet practitioner) it has been inspiring to see patients taking responsibility their own self care and healthcare.  I believe that this is the essence of what many patients find empowering about coming to the polyclinic.

It has been a pleasure to see so many patients benefit from the polyclinic.  A patient that particularly sticks in my mind include a lady who emailed to report that her blood pressure and cholesterol levels had been reduced so much that her GP was discussing reducing her medication.  Another was a lady who, having been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis many years ago, has been coming to the clinic for a decade and feels it has helped her avoid becoming wheelchair bound.  Of course these stories are only anecdotal, but it's great to see what can be achieved when a patient feels able to take control of their healthcare and combine the best of conventional and complementary medicine.